Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Provo, UT
VS
San Marcos, CA
🏆 San Marcos leads 12 of 23 categories
Provo
Utah
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,943
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
114,400 ✓ Larger
San Marcos
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,413 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59
Population
94,360
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Provo, UT
Pros
Rent averages $975/mo less ($1,089 vs $2,064)
Homes cost $337k less ($391,500 vs $728,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than San Marcos
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 20.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Marcos by $41,470/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
San Marcos, CA
Pros
Households earn $41,470 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 41°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Provo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Provo
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Violent Crime
7% lower
206.6 vs 222.4 per 100k
Provo
Median Home Value
$337k less
$391,500 vs $728,800
Provo
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 87.2°F
San Marcos
Median Income
$41,470
$99,413 vs $57,943/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Provo, UT | San Marcos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $391,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $728,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,089 ✓ Lower | $2,064⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,943 | $99,413 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 59 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 41.5% |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 87.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Provo District | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.2°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,400 ✓ Larger | 94,360 |
| Median Age | 23.6 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.1% | 61.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.4% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Provo's cost of living index is 95.8 vs San Marcos's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Provo is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Marcos leads 12 of 23 categories. Provo wins 11 and San Marcos wins 12. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Provo to San Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($391,500 vs $728,800 median home), income ($57,943 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Provo, UT and San Marcos, CA are about 579 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.